Recommend a light, affordable and decent quality 6x7 or 6x9 camera?

bdial · Apr 20, 2017

To add to all of the prior suggestions, you may want to consider a 2x3 Crown Graphic with a roll film back.
Not as light or compact as the folders, but you could have some lens choices. They are inexpensive compared to the rangefinder system cameras like the Fuji's or Mamiya. A Speed would be ok too, but they are a little heavier and slightly larger.

I'm not sure what Graflex XL's run, but probably a good bit less than Mamiya 7's. An XL would be a little heavier than a Crown, but easier to use, because the rangefinder is part of the viewfinder.

PCGraflex · Apr 27, 2017

bdial said:
To add to all of the prior suggestions, you may want to consider a 2x3 Crown Graphic with a roll film back.
Not as light or compact as the folders, but you could have some lens choices. They are inexpensive compared to the rangefinder system cameras like the Fuji's or Mamiya. A Speed would be ok too, but they are a little heavier and slightly larger.

I'm not sure what Graflex XL's run, but probably a good bit less than Mamiya 7's. An XL would be a little heavier than a Crown, but easier to use, because the rangefinder is part of the viewfinder.

+1

moto-uno · Apr 27, 2017

^ I'm not sure if you gentlemen have noticed in a previous post , BUT , he's already bought a camera ! Peter

MattKing · Apr 27, 2017

moto-uno said:
^ I'm not sure if you gentlemen have noticed in a previous post , BUT , he's already bought a camera ! Peter

Yes, but only one!

DWThomas · Apr 27, 2017

moto-uno said:
^ I'm not sure if you gentlemen have noticed in a previous post , BUT , he's already bought a camera ! Peter

Hehe, there's a saying on Bike Forums in response to "How many bicycles is enough?" Answer: "N+1"
Seems that should easily translate to cameras!

Sepia Hawk · Apr 28, 2017

Thank you, I am sure I'll be getting a few more in the future... And I'll jump into large format at some point... But for the moment I've got enough choice between Canon F-1, Canon Ftb, Mamiya TLR and Kodak Medalist... All I need is really more time to shoot and play with the darkroom magic.

EdColorado · Apr 28, 2017

I'll add a quick note on the 620 respooling deal. If you have a small belt sander perchance (you do like woodworking right?) you can quickly thin down the edges of a 120 spool to fit in a 620 camera. takes a few seconds a roll and you avoid the hassle and possible issues of a respool. I know its a bit of a long shot that you would have a sander sitting around but just in case...

ParkerSmithPhoto · Apr 28, 2017

Sepia Hawk said:
I currently have Mamiya C220 which I like a lot, but it is bulky and I only have the 80mm lens for it.

I'd stick with the C220 and add another lens or two. You'll get another MF camera that will also most likely have a normal lens, probably fixed, so you aren't really expanding your possibilities. After a series of Fujis, Mamiyas, Bronicas and Hassys I've settled on Hasselblad with 50mm, 80mm, 150mm and two backs, one square and one 645. Sold everything else. Life is so much easier now.

MattKing · Apr 28, 2017

The lenses for Mamiya TLRs are relatively less bulky and heavy than lenses for other medium format cameras. So a C220 plus two or three lenses will be a lot less bulky than other options plus two or three lenses.
I've settled on a C330 plus 65mm and 135mm lenses. I can pack that with waist level and prism finders, a trigger grip, filters, film, cable release and a hand meter into a small camera bag.

Sepia Hawk · Apr 28, 2017

EdColorado said:
I'll add a quick note on the 620 respooling deal. If you have a small belt sander perchance (you do like woodworking right?) you can quickly thin down the edges of a 120 spool to fit in a 620 camera. takes a few seconds a roll and you avoid the hassle and possible issues of a respool. I know its a bit of a long shot that you would have a sander sitting around but just in case...

Thanks for the tip. I was thinking about it as well - I don't have a lathe, but I do have a small belt sander, hand planes, rasps and a dremel tool. I am sure I will find a way to trim the rolls somehow...
How on earth do you know I like woodworking?

Sepia Hawk · Apr 28, 2017

I'll get more lenses for my Mamiya as well, but it is not so easy to find them in a good condition for a decent price. Telephotos seem cheaper than wide angle, but both are quite expensive, especially if one wants to get them with cases.

MattKing · Apr 28, 2017

Sepia Hawk said:
I'll get more lenses for my Mamiya as well, but it is not so easy to find them in a good condition for a decent price. Telephotos seem cheaper than wide angle, but both are quite expensive, especially if one wants to get them with cases.

Don't worry about cases - either the camera bag compartments or the padded lens bags work great. Just be sure you have caps.
I've got a couple of cases for mine, and they just sit in storage.

zilch0md · Apr 28, 2017

Ricardo Miranda said:
That would be a very special one and extremely rare.
How did you get a German camera to have a Japanese lens?

The only examples of which I'm aware are the Plaubel Makina 67, W67, and 670 (German bodies, Japanese lenses.)

nosmok · Apr 28, 2017

If you're buzzing down 120 spools to go in your Medalist or other 620 camera, be advised that it doesn't work to use the buzzed-down spools on the makeup side. It's kind of automatic to do that when you're out shooting multiple rolls, and you may get away with it once or twice, but there will come a time when you will strip out the plastic center of the shaved spool while in mid-wind, and then the camera is useless til it sees the inside of a changing bag or you grit your teeth and ruin some of the roll you just took. Don't ask me how I know.

MattKing · Apr 28, 2017

The buzzed down spools don't always work. Some cameras, like the Kodak Tourist, are very tight.

Sepia Hawk · Jul 21, 2017

Thank you all. It's been a while and I wanted to post an update. I bought a Kodak Medalist, but I have to admit it is too much hassle for me. The camera itself is very handy and the size is perfect, but the rangefinder on mine is off. I ran a few rolls of film I re-spooled myself. Re-spooling is relatively easy, but only because I have a basement with a light-tight location in it. I don't think I could do it when traveling. So I'll be selling the Medalist.
In the meantime I decided to get a camera I'd always wanted to have, a Mamiya Super 23. I bought one from someone in Japan and it is in almost pristine condition. I think it must have belonged to a collector or someone who did not use it frequently. It is a heavy beast, but I simply love it. I got the 100mm and 65mm lenses and two 6x9 backs for it. Ready to go. A little bit more expensive and heavier than I originally intended, but I think the Mamiya will serve me well for many years to come. Best of all, it is a system so I want to get more lenses and a ground glass for it in the future.

I checked and the Mamiya, the backs, the two lenses and filters will fit into my Domke F2 bag, together with my Canon F1 and three FD lenses.

Recommend a light, affordable and decent quality 6x7 or 6x9 camera?

bdial

PCGraflex

moto-uno

MattKing

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DWThomas

Sepia Hawk

EdColorado

ParkerSmithPhoto

MattKing

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Sepia Hawk

Sepia Hawk

MattKing

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zilch0md

nosmok

MattKing

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Sepia Hawk

Recommend a light, affordable and decent quality 6x7 or 6x9 camera?

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